More than half the companies in the UKâs FTSE 100 replaced at least one of their three main directors last year.

According to BoardEx, a data provider, 55 of them either replaced or announced the replacement of one or more of the chairman, chief executive and finance director. That was less than the 59 recorded in 2005.

Last year, 28 companies replaced their chairman, 25 shuffled the finance director and 25 saw a change in chief executive.

The most active company for reshuffles was ITV, a commercial television broadcaster, where chairman Sir Peter Burt announced his retirement, Charles Allen departed as chief executive and finance director John Creswell was appointed interim chief executive.

At the end of last year, Michael Grade, chairman of the BBC, was appointed ITV executive chairman while Creswell was named chief operating officer and finance director.